Improvement in life-preservers



THOMAS R. SCOTT.

Improvement in Life Preservers.

No. 121,132. 1 Panama No.11. 21,1871.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. SCOTT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO MARY A. SCOTT, OF

WEST HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY; SAID MARY A. SCOTT ASSIGNOR TO HER- SELF AND ADALINE M. INGERSOLL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN LlFE-PRESERVER S.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,132, dated November 21, 1871.

To all whom it may concern.-

'Be it known that I, THOMAS E. Scorr, of the city and State of New York, have invented an vas or sail-cloth. These life-preservers are often made with inferior quality of cork or pieces of wood introduced in place of cork, and, being preserved from view by the canvas, the deception is not discovered, and an almost valueless lifepreserver is thus supplied to vessels, and under circumstances requiring a perfect article.

My invention is made for preventing deception and enabling the cork to be seen and examined. To efiect this I make the pockets in the canvas jacket with one or more openings in each through which the surface of the cork can be easily seen; but the said cork cannot become disconnected or slip out of said pockets; and I make the pockets in two groups, one at each side of the jacket, and united by the sail-cloth or canvas at the back, and provided with straps to increase or lessen the opening or space between said groups, and thereby accommodate different sizes of persons more conveniently. The straps that pass over the shoulders are fastened permanently at their ends to the jacket, but are provided with separate adjusting-straps and buckles so as to be shortened, if necessary, to keep the life-preserver closely up around the body and beneath the arms.

In the drawing I have shown by a perspective ings are strengthened by hemming or turning over the edges of the fabric. These openings should be as large as convenient, but not of a size that will risk the pieces of cork slipping out of the pockets. The canvas of the jacket a is made with the pockets grouped together in two sections, leaving the jacket plain at the portion 0, and at this part the straps e e are applied, and at the edges of the jacket the straps ff project so as to fasten the preserver to the person. When the straps e e are loosened the jacket will be sufticiently large to fit a stout person without throwing the cork too much around toward the back, and when the straps e are tightened the life-preserver will fit a small person or achild. These straps e and f may be made to buckle or to tie. The shoulder-straps h h are attached firmly at their ends to the canvas jacket a, so that there will not be any risk of their becoming disconnected; but in order that the straps may be shortened to keep the preserver up beneath the arms with small persons I employ the auxiliary straps l and buckles n, said straps being attached firmly at one end, and the other end being passed through the buckles so as to be drawn up as required.

By this construction of life-preserver the size 7 can be varied to suit the wearer, and the cork is left sufficiently exposed to allow of inspection to prevent frauds.

I claim as my invention- The cork life-preserver with openings in the covering so that the cork can be examined, as set forth.

Signed by me this 30th day of August, A. D.

THUS. R. SCOTT.

Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINCKNEY, HAROLD SERRELL. 

